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Healthy Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

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Remember that song “Big Yellow Taxi” by the Counting Crows?! Well, the phrase above is from that song and it has been coming to my mind a lot lately.

Before I get to how amazing this overnight oats recipe is, I want to share something a little more personal with you all.

A few years back I was blessed with the opportunity to get 3D Lasik Eye Surgery. It was the most amazing thing to wake up with clear vision and not have to worry about contacts, solution, glasses, etc…especially with all the travel I did for my old job. But a few months after I had the procedure done, I started noticing that my eyes would occasionally go blurry. Thankfully, it was only when my eyes were really dry or tired and soon the blurriness went away.

However, since moving to NYC last summer, my eyes have started getting blurry again. I didn’t mention anything to Brett about it at first, hoping it was just due to dryness or tiredness like the last time, but they continued to get worse and I started getting scared. It’s amazing the thoughts that go through your mind when something is out of your control. What if I go blind? What if Brett has to do everything for me? What if our plans to move overseas get cancelled because I can’t see or do anything?

Pretty extreme thoughts, aren’t they? Once I realized my thoughts were heading in an unhealthy direction I told Brett about the blurriness I was experiencing. I also shared the thoughts I was having. It’s amazing how sharing what’s going on inside our heads with someone else brings peace and clarity! Brett and I were able to pray about it and he reassured me that everything would be alright.

I was able to get a hold of my eye surgeon and they suggested some remedies for me to try before more extreme procedures are considered. Every night before bed I’m supposed to place a sock full of rice in the microwave, heat it up, and then place the sock on my eyes to steam them. They also recommended some omega oil pills for me to take.

After 8 weeks of following these suggestions, we’ll reassess the condition of my eyes.

In the meantime, I’m going to be grateful for the eyesight that I do have. In a way, I’m thankful for the blurriness I’ve experienced lately, because it’s made me more aware of how amazing sight is! I had forgotten how many colors, textures, and sights I take in each and every day. I had forgotten that my eyes allow me to cook, exercise, read, watch shows, and interact with people in a more personal way. Our eyes are truly wonderful things!

So instead of waiting for something to be gone before I’m grateful for it, I’m going to try to appreciate the little (and big!) things I have right now!

I’m also going to drool over how amazing these Healthy Cookie Dough Overnight Oats look!

How To Make Overnight Oats:

Overnight oats are so simple to make, they just take a little bit of planning as you have to prepare them the night before in order for them to sit in the fridge overnight. There a lots of different overnight oat variations, but the main concept is that oats aren’t cooked in a microwave or in a pan on the stovetop, but instead oats and chia seeds are mixed with milk, water, yogurt–or a combination of these ingredients–and left in the fridge overnight to soak. The result are cold, creamy oats that are ready for you in the morning and can be taken on the go and topped with whatever you want! When you prepare the oats the night before you can also determine what flavor you want your overnight oats to be by adding different spices, purees, fresh and dried fruits, nut butters and other add-ins like nuts, seeds, cacao nibs and chocolate chips! For vegan overnight oats, I like to soak my oats in plant milk for a richer, creamier consistency. If you have access to non-dairy yogurt, that is also a wonderful ingredient to use! One last thing I often add to my overnight oats is shredded zucchini, like I share in this Vanilla Protein Powder Overnight Oats with Zucchini Recipe. The shredded zucchini adds volume and micronutrients, without any veggie aftertaste!

I’m seriously in love with this recipe! It’s simple to prepare, perfectly sweet, and full of texture. I’ve always been a lover of sweet breakfasts, but I’d rather not eat pancakes drenched in maple syrup everyday. This overnight oats recipe is the perfect balance between sweet and healthy. The oats and chia seeds supply protein and fiber. The cashew butter makes everything rich and creamy. The cacao nibs give crunch and added nutrients and the maple syrup provides just the right amount of sweetness! This Healthy Cookie Dough Overnight Oats recipe really does make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Plus, it takes just five minutes to prepare the night before and your breakfast is all ready for you when you wake up. Take it to go or eat it in the comfort of your own home.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Look forward to making this tonight! Is unsweetened or sweetened milk preferred? I have seen many recipes for overnight oats that suggest unsweetened but not sure why or if it is necessary to go out and buy unsweetened instead. Thank you! 🙂

I used your recipe as a base recipe and added 1 tbsp powder flax seeds, 2 tsps vegan cocoa protein powder, 1 mashed banana, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and a pinch of salt…. It ended up being delicious! Just thought I would post it in case you wanted to try other combinations 🙂

How is your eyesight? I only just read this today… in case you‘re interested… my mother uses some vitamins called „preserve mac forte“ for her eyes and has significantly bettered the sharpnes of her vision. You can email me if you wish to know more about the brand and where to get them.

Hi Tabea! Thanks for asking! My eyesight is great! I just discovered from that experience that when they’re dry or I’m over tired, they can not focus as well. But eye drops and good sleep fixed that problem and so can see great still! Thanks for sharing about your mom’s vitamins though!

I found your blog by someone having shared a picture of this recipe on Pinterest. Although I’m not vegan, and I’m not planning on becoming vegan, I AM looking to incorporate a lot more plant-based foods into our diet. The image alone attracted me…and so I’ve got 2 servings of this waiting in the fridge for us in the morning! I didn’t have cashew butter, so I used almond butter…and I chopped up some 85% dark chocolate for hubby instead of the nibs…I’ll try it with the nibs and see how I like them (on their own, they’re quite bitter, with almost an ‘alcohol’ flavor to them…hoping the maple syrup and almost butter masks the bitterness some.)

Been scrolling through your recipes, and looking forward to trying a whole bunch of them!! 🙂 Keep ’em coming!

Hi Edie! I’m so glad you found this recipe and that you said hi! I totally understand on the cacao nibs. I think they taste horrible on their own, but I don’t mind them in sweet things. It’ll be good to see the difference in the oatmeal between the batch with cacao nibs and the batch with dark chocolate. And almond butter makes for a great substitute. Hopefully you’ll both enjoy the oats! I hope the rest of my recipes come in handy for you as you try to eat more plant based meals. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Hi Kristina! Glad you’re thinking of giving this recipe a try. You can definitely use almond or peanut butter. The taste will just slightly change, but either way it will be delicious. Hope you like it!

Hey Chelsea! Good question. The chia seeds aren’t as pronounced in overnight oats, but if you don’t want them a substitute suggestion would be ground flaxseed (the same ratio). The chia seeds help to thicken the oats, so if you omit them completely, you may need to add a little less liquid! I hope it works out for you. I love this recipe:)

I am thankful for you, all of your great recipes and what you mean to our family! Prayers for the eye sight and can’t wait to try the overnight oats . . .a little healthier than the cookie dough bagels that we used to devour 🙂

That’s so scary to hear about the blurriness! Please keep us updated and I’ll keep you in my prayers <3 On a food note, I've been wanting to try overnight oats for the first time and these look like a great place to start!Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Friday Favorites: lying, ice cream, and pasta, oh my!